Vitamin D Linked to Reduced Risk of Type 1 Diabetes

For the first time, a study has found a direct correlation between blood levels of vitamin D and the risk of type 1 diabetes. According to the study, the risk of developing type 1 diabetes is 3.5 times greater for individuals with blood levels below 24 ng/ml.

For the study, researchers used blood samples taken from individuals not previously diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The samples were frozen by the Department of Defense Serum Registry.

Approximately one thousand of the individuals who donated blood later developed type 1 diabetes. The researchers compared their vitamin D levels with the levels of individuals who did not develop diabetes.

They found that individuals with the lowest vitamin D blood levels had a greater risk of developing type 1 diabetes than those with the highest levels.

The researchers also determined that a serum level of 50 ng/ml could act as a preventative for developing type 1 diabetes. The researchers say that taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily would provide the desired serum level.

This study was conducted at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. It was published in the December 2012 issue of Diabetologia.

Previous studies have shown vitamin D to be associated with improved kidney health, reductions in skin cancer, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, improved cardiovascular health, combating diabetes, and improving age related eye degeneration.

Vitamin D can be found in milk, fortified cereals, fish, and eggs. Your body also processes vitamin D from the sun but it becomes harder for our bodies to process it as we age. A high quality vitamin D supplement is always a good option if you feel that you’re not getting enough through diet and sun.